Mainebiz publisher takes over two other publications

Mainebiz publisher Donna Brassard has been named group publisher of New England Business Media, also overseeing the Hartford Business Journal and Worcester Business Journal.

Laurie Schreiber of Mainebiz writes, “In 1990, Business Worcester became the Worcester Business Journal and Brassard became the ad sales manager. She was then promoted to associate publisher, a position she held for five years before coming on, in 1999, as publisher of Mainebiz.

“‘We jumped at the opportunity to move into this market,’ she said. ‘When we took it over it was monthly. It was pretty much Portland-centric, with sales of about $300,000 per year, and three employees and bunch of freelancers. It was a shoestring operation. But we saw the potential here.’

“Since then, with Brassard at the helm, Mainebiz has grown to 17 employees, revenues have more than quadrupled and the publication provides coverage and events throughout the entire state.

“Her role to date includes audience development throughout NEBM, with a focus on ensuring the implementation of best practices in digital sales and sponsorship sales, working with NEBM teams and sharing her long-time sales and management expertise across the three offices.”

Chris Roush is the Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.